Where Ponies and Waves meet!

Our  waterfront blog series continues by highlighting the waterfront operation at Assateague State Park.
Our guest waterfront blogger this week is Ranger Bill Yates

Greetings from Assateague State park Beach Patrol (ASBP) !

Surf, sand, sun and wild horses on one of America’s top ten islands. As Maryland’s only ocean state park, Assateague’s ocean lifeguards are dedicated surf rescue professionals that view their lifesaving duties as a way of life and not just a job.

To meet this challenge, ASBP lifeguards undergo daily rigorous physical and skills training such as ocean swimming, running on the sand, weight training and emergency medical drills.

The 2014 ASBP crew is a force of thirteen professionals consisting of five first year “rookies” and eight surf- seasoned two to fifteen year veterans. Along with the basics, many of the lifeguards have additional training such as EMT and EMR certifications.

 Captain Jensen Davis leads the crew with support from lieutenants Alex Jacoski (AJ) and Dan Caton. Rookies Lauren Buckman, Michelle Hayman, Brandon Bond, Caitlin Bunting and Forrest Mattingly joined the crew this year. Like the migrating dolphins returning to Assateague every spring, the return of veteran lifeguards Nora Mears, Danny Schall, Zac Disharoon, Tim Morrill and Lindsey Buckman are a sign of spring at Assateague.

Assateague Island is an island of many moods, one minute it can be a serene peaceful paradise with gentle winds and blue peaceful waters and the next minute becomes an angry hostile island with ten foot waves and hungry rip currents preying on inexperienced swimmers. Fortunately, ASBP is there.

Assateague Island is the home of the famous Assateague horses. Long ago, arriving on local farmer’s boats and possibly by Spanish shipwrecks, the Assateague horses are known to park visitors throughout the world.

Wild horses combined with up to two million human visitors a year, present a unique set of challenges for the ASBP. Advising beach goers on safe horse/human interactions are part of the daily routine of Assateague lifeguards. Lifeguards remind beach goers to maintain a safe distance of ten feet from the horses, secure their human food and do not touch or feed the horses. The ASBP lifeguards do this, while at the same time, rescuing distressed swimmers from the over powering currents of the Atlantic Ocean.

The ASBP welcomes you to visit them at this special, sometimes mystical, island Assateague State Park, Maryland.   

A taste of what is to come in our next waterfront blog as we share all the activities, and announce this year's champions in our Annual Lifeguard Competition.

Point Lookout Life Guard Staff and Beach Manager , Ranger George Kahl